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By Nuha Abdessalam
A petition demanding the firing of a school psychologist at Ridgeland School District 122 for posting Islamophobic social media messages has gathered more than 1,400 signatures.
The petition on change.org is “calling for the removal of the schoo psychologist Laurie Hoke for sharing posts and comments that are explicitly racist, Islamophobic, hateful, ignorant, and dangerous.”
The petition says, “The Ridgeland District 122 is in a region that has a large number of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students enrolled in this district. The parents of these students are rightfully fearful for the safety of their children based on the hateful remarks made by Laurie Hoke that specifically target them.
“The parents of Ridgeland District 122 are calling for the immediate removal of Laurie Hoke in order to protect their children and ensure a safe and hate-free learning environment for them, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. We have to protect our children from racists like Laurie Hoke.”
To see the petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/removal-of-the-school-psychologist-laurie-hoke
Parental concerns about Hoke led District 122 Supt. Joseph Matise to call what he termed a forum on March 7 at Simmons Middle School in Oak Lawn to promote a positive dialogue about the situation.
School board member Fida Zoubeidi, American Muslims for Palestine Board member of Chicago Deanna Othman, and Dr. Sawsan Jaber, a curriculum Co-Designer and Educational Strategist, joined Matise.
“Tonight’s meeting is about promoting responsible engagement and thoughtful dialogue in finding constructive solutions,” he said. “My goal is to listen to our community to move forward in a positive direction for our students.”
A crowd of more than 200 parents and community members attended the meeting and demanded answers about the status of Hoke, who had posted several pro-Israel messages on her Facebook page, which seems to have been taken down.
Matise told the crowd that he could not cannot discuss personal matters about whether or not Hoke was currently an active district employee, leaving parents with even more questions.
On Tuesday, he said the district was conducting an internal investigation into the matter with results likely to be released at next week’s school board meeting.
Community member Aneesa Muthana was one of several who took to the podium. “This presentation is astounding to me. It is not our children’s responsibility to educate educators and school systems, it’s insulting to our community,” she said. “It is not our job as parents to call for a racist psychologist to be removed. Would you want that type of behavior … where your children are supposed to be safe?
“We are forced to address the actions of Lorie Hoke. Her actions, specifically Islamophobic content, are not only profoundly offensive but fundamentally undermine the role of what she is supposed to play in our children’s lives.”
Hoke is responsible for cognitive evaluations for students with IEPs (Individualized Educational Plans) at the district’s five schools, Kolb, Simmons, Harnew, and Columbus Manor in Oak Lawn and Lieb School in Bridgeview.
Sajaa, a mother of children who attend District 122, required a translator at the meeting to voice how personally affected she was. “Reading the posts online, my son, who has had an IEP for the last 10 years within the district, was incredibly insulting for us, seeing as how Hoke was a team member on my child’s case and meetings. It makes me think, was she doing a disservice to my son because he is Palestinian?”
Tina Nunez, a licensed mental health social worker, said board members should focus on the children present at the meeting.
“Look at the children sitting in the front. How are you going to look at them? Do you think they’re safe coming to school with Laurie Hoke still working here?
“I understand the importance of bridging the gap between Arab Americans and education, however, we are here tonight to request the removal of Laurie Hoke for being openly racist and Islamaphobic. Training is not going to remove the hate she has in her heart, that has already been put out and it’s public.”
Parents also requested a third party to re-evaluate students with IEPs to assess any possible damage exposure to Hoke may have caused.
The next Board of Education meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 20 at the District Office, 6500 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.